“With summer on the horizon, we’re excited to be able to offer travelers a helpful pricing guide for America’s most popular theme parks so they can enjoy a fun-filled theme park getaway at any budget,” said Caroline Burns, Head of PR and Travel Expert, HomeToGo. “While ticket prices have seen an overall increase, we’re pleased that the index revealed that some of the best theme parks across the country are accessible for a fraction of the price compared to those in states like Florida and California.”
Based on the cost of a one-day adult admission ticket, parking and HomeToGo’s own data for nearby accommodations, here’s a snapshot of the top rankings from the 2022 Theme Park Index:
Most Affordable Theme Parks in the U.S. for 2022 – Ranked by Price
heme Park | State | Ticket | Daily Parking Rate | Median Nightly Accommodation Per Person | Total Cost Per Day |
1. Tropic Falls at OWA | AL | $22.49 | Free | $72.67 | $95.16 |
2. Quassy Amusement Park | CT | $39.99 | $10 | $57.77 | $107.76 |
3. Wild Adventures Theme Park | GA | $49.99 | $15 | $43.60 | $108.59 |
4. Worlds of Fun | MO | $34.99 | $25 | $44.69 | $104.68 |
5. Six Flags Darien Lake | NY | $34.99 | $20 | $63.22 | $118.21 |
Additional key takeaways from this year’s Theme Park Index include:
- Most Affordable States: Amusement parks in Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri and New York climb to the affordable peak of this year’s ranking, whereas world-renowned parks in Florida and California are on the pricier side.
- Best State for Theme Park Enthusiasts with a Sizeable Budget: Florida reigns supreme with the most theme parks on this year’s ranking (7), followed by California (5). The average total cost per day among the featured theme parks in Florida is $217.37, compared to $256.98 in California.
- Theme Park Brand with the Most Roller Coasters: Multiple (6) Six Flags parks are featured in HomeToGo’s Theme Park Index, each boasting an impressive number of roller coasters, including Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, which is home to the tallest roller coaster in the world and fastest roller coaster in North America.
- Entry Prices Have Increased Compared to Pre-Pandemic: The average entry cost has risen 12% when compared to HomeToGo’s 2019 Theme Park Index. This year’s average entry cost is $74.51, whereas in 2019 it was $66.52. The park with the cheapest entry cost is Tropic Falls at OWA in Alabama, which has decreased its cost from $34.99 in 2019 to $22.49 in 2022.
